Gear-shifting mechanism.



F. JOHNSON.

, QE. RsH`|FTNG MECHANISM.

APPL'lcAIfpN FILED :UNE 28. m5,

'Patented Oct. 12, 1 9l5 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

www @CWM wom/ awa/QL g1 F. JOHNSON'.

l GEAR vSHIFTHJG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,1915.A

Patented Oct. '12, 1915.

2` SHEETSVHEU 2.

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FRANK JOHNSON, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

GEAR-SHIF'TING MECHANISM.

i T0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK '.ToimsoN, a citizen of the'llnited States, residing at Detroit, in the county of YWayne and Statel of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Rear-Shifting Mechanism, of which the follewin,"r is a specification.

This invention relates to means for shiftv ing the movable gears oir change speed mechanisms within the ordinary gear boes of motor vehicles, and its object is to provide a shifting mechanism that can be completely assembled before being mounted on the gear box, which will adjust itself to the gears to'be shifted, which will interlock the gears and permit the movement of but one of them until said gear has been returned to neutral position, and which shall have all ni `sary strength.

.ihis invention consists, in combination of a gear box, theI gears therein, two of thembcing shittable. a cover lol.' the gear box.y and an operating lever mounted intermediate its ends on the cover. of a Jhevolubly and longitudinally adjustablefsla'ft, gear shifting foi-ics slidable on the shaft. means whereby one fork is held from turning on the shai't by the other, means for"positioning the forks longitudinally ot' 'the shalt, andmcans for preventing either fork being moved trom neutral position until the other fork hasv been moved back to neutral position.

in the accompanying dra wings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of a change speed gearing provided with this improved 'shifting mechanism, the gears and shafts being in elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan of the shifting mechanism. Fig. 3 is another plan ot' the same 'with the parts in vslightly different position. Fig. 4 is an .end view on the line 4.41 ot' lfigf2. Fig. 5 is a`section on the line oi Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a view et the supporting shaft.

Similar reference characters referto like parts throughout the several Views.

'lvhe gears shown in Fig. 1 are of Well known construction and are mounted in, a box having ends 1 and 2. bottom 3, and cover i provided with a pedestal shat'jt 6 from thi-y engine is in alinen'ient with the tinted sha tt 7 on which the slidablc gears are movable. On the shaft (3 is a` double 8-.-9. in which the reduced end l!) ot' *tias shaft 7 is journaled.

The constantly running gear 8 meshes with the gear 12 on the countershaft 13, winch Specification of Letters Patent.

The main Patented oet. 12, 191 5.

has the gears 15, 16 and'17 secured to it. The gear, 17 meshes with the reversing pinion 18 on the shaft 19. The gear 2O cairbe'slid or?, the shaft 7, by meansJOf the fork 22 extending down from the cover,.

can also be moved so that the gear 23 will `engage thc-gear l5 on the counter shaft, so

that the shaft T will beV driven at next to the highest speed.l This movement', is brought about by the fork 26 extending down from the cover, and to prevent the movement ofl the forksto shift either the-gear 2O or the gear 2B-2%. except when the other is at neutrai position, that is, out of engagement with either of the gears with which it may engage, is the problem the present invention is designed to meet. lt will be understood that the parts thus far described are well known. y

The operating lever of this device oomprises a ball 28 from which an arm 29 ending in a head 3() extends down, and a handle 32- having a ball 33 at its upper end extends up. 'lhe pedestal has an inwardly extending' flange 34 which supports a spring that presses the bushing 36 against the ball, which is held down by the bushing 37 screwed into the upper end of the pedestal. 'llt'vo nuts 38 and 39 are mounted on the screw-threaded part 4l of the arm 32, and between them, the heini-spherical dust' cap 40 is mounted. lubricating oil and prevent thev entrance of dust, ,While permitting the arm 29 to be Rings 43 and 4l of felt hold I of the shaft prevents endwise movement of the .shaft 'inthefbushing While still permittingit to turn.

On this shaft are slidablet the two heads 55 and 56 to which ythe forks 22 and are connected.' The Shaftl'v is 4the shifter.

ried bv the head and thus prevents it` from turning.

Each head may be provided with apreferably rectangular groove adjacent the bore for the shaft, which the` guide bars 59 andtlO are mounted, the bar 59 being secured to the head and the bar 60 to the head 56 oby means of rivets before assembling These guide bars permit longgi-y tudinal movementof the forks 22 and 26 relative to the shaft "t", but prevent'them from swinging transversely relative to each other so that they are always in line.

Each of` these `@guide bars is formed with a -notch or socket 63 into which the ends of trl'e coni-'ol pin @Ll may extend, which pin is freely slidable'in a` transverse hole in the shaft' 47. The length of the pin is such that when it extends to the bottom of either socket 6 3, its opposite end is below or ilush with the surface of the shaft. So longas it ext-ends into either socket, the guide bar having said Socket cannot be shifted, and the Apin cannot moveout. of this soi'z'ket until the other guide bar is so positioned that its socket is in line with this pin. properly positioning` -these socletswith vreference to rthe fbrks, so that the sockets will be in aline* ment withthis pin when the gearspositioned by the forks are in. neutral positions, then it will be impossible to shift either fork ,until the other fork is brought to neutral position.

l Mounted in each head, preferably on the side thereof adjacent the forl, in a proper socket 65, is a ball G6, forced toward the shaft Li7 by means of a spring S that enthe head S8 of a stem (if) that is guided in a hole in the bottom 70 of the socket. he shaft is preferably formed with. six# tla'nsverse grooves to receive the balls t6 to hold `the heads from moving-unless slid along'the shaft by means of the shifting lever. These grooves are so positioned that when the hall $30, ,carried by the head 5G, is in the groove Tl, the internally toothed clutch nieinber' will be in engagement with the Kdear 9 and the shaft 7 will be driven directly ory at highest speed.y When this ball isin the groove '72, the gear will be in neutral po sition. When the ball is in the groove 73, the gear 23 will be in engagement with the gear l5 and the shaft 7 will be driven at' intermediate speed. Then the ball 66, carried by the head is in the groove 7l, the gear 20 will be in engagement with the, gear loand the shaft 7 will be driven at the lowest speed.l lrllhen the hall is .in the groove 75, the gear 2O will he kin neutral position. lllhen the ball is in the groove 7G, the gear 20 will mesh with the reversing pinion 18 and the shaft i is turned at a low sneed in a reverse direction. it will he apparent that when the balls the two heads are in their grooves 72 and 4o, that the pin G4 can move into either socket G3..

-end 30 of the shifting lever may engage, and extending from the head is an arm provided with a flange 84 which also fo'ms a pocket S15-to receive th'e shifting lever. lVhen the heads and forksare at neutral, as shown in 2, these pockets are in alinenient and the en'd of the shifting lever may be swung' .laterally into either pocket Mounted on the head 55 is a vertical Hangs' 8O forming a pocket 8l into `which the lower and either head and fork may be shifted f longitudinally of the shaft 47, But when either head has been moved sufficiently to niove'its ball 66 out of a neutral groove, the flanges or Si of the other head will preventthe end '30 ofthe shifting'y lever from leaving the pocket. By this means, only one of the heads 'caun be shifted ata time.

Many ehangesin the details of the construction of this device may be matie without departing from the spirit of my invention asset forth in the claims, so long as .the two great advantages are retained,\vhich are, that this entire shifting device can be as sembled before being mounted in the gear box, andthat the mechanism adjusts itself to considerable variations in the construction.

I claim 1. In a change-speed gearing, the combination of a gear box, a shaft and gears mounted therein, two of said gears being sli'dable on the shaft, a second shaft revolib bly mounted substantially parallel to the first,7 tivo heads slidable on said second shaft, foiks extending from said heads into -en- Igagement with the slidable gears, an interlot-k to prevent both of the heads being i moved from neutral position, and means to shift the heads", forks and gears.

i2. In a change-speed gearing, the combination4 of a gear box, a shaft and gears mounted therein, two of sai-d gears being slidable on the shaft, a second shaft revolubly mounted substantially parallel to' the first, means for longitudinally adjusting said shaft, two heads slidable on said second shaft, forks extending fromsaid heads into engagement with the slidable gears, an interlock to prevent both of the heads beingr moved simultaneously from neutral position, -and means to shift the heads, forks and gears. f

3. ln a change-speed gearing, the combi nation of gear box, a 'shaft and gears mounted therein, two of said gears beingr slidable on the shaft, 'a second shaft revolu.n bly mounted substantially parallel to the first, two heads slidable on said, second shaft, forks entendi'ne,4 from heads into en gagement with the slidaole gears, said shaft having a transverse hole, said, heads being each provided with ay dep.. .sion in alineilo ment with said hole when the heads and vokes are in neutral positions, a pin slidable in said hole of such greater length than the diameter of the shaft that it extends into 5 atleast one'of said depressions andialways prevents the movement of oneof the heads, and means to shift ,the heads, forks and gears.

Ai. In a change-speed gearing, the combi? nation of a gear box having a cover, a pedestal mounted on the cover, a shaft and gea rs mounted in said gear box,jtwo of said gears being slidable on the shaft, a second shaft revolubly mounted substantially parallel to the first shaft, two heads slidable on said second shaft, forks extending from said heads into4 engagement .with the slidable gears, an interlock'to prevent both of the 'l heads from being moved. at the same time 2o and shifting lever mounted intermediate its ends at the top of the pedestal and extending into engagement with said heads to shift the heads, forks and gears.""

5. .ln a change-speed gearing, the combination of'a gear box, a shaft and J"gears mounted therein,'two of said 'gears'.being slidable on the shaft, a second shaft revolubly Lnounted substantially parallel to the first, two heads independently slidable on said second shaft, said second shaft having a longitudinal 'key-way, means mounted on one of the heads and extending .into said key-way to preventsaid head from turning fon the shaft, means'to prevent relative rota- 'tion between said heads, forksextending from said head into engagement with the slidable gears, an interlock to prevent both of the heads being moved simultaneously, and means to shift the heads, forks and 40 gears. ,v

t3. In a change-speed gearing, the combination of a gearbox, a shaft and gears mounted therein, two of said gears being slidable on the shaft, a second shaft revolu- I- bly mounted substantially parallel to the first, two heads slidable on said second shaft, forks extending from saidY heads into engagement with the slidable gears, means to hold each head and the gear slidable thereby in neutral position, an interlock to prerent both heads being simultaneously moved from neutral position, and means to shift the heads, forks and gears,

7i In a change-speed gearing, the combination of a gear box, a shaft and gears mounted therein, two of said gears being slidable on the shaft, the second shaft revoluble substantially parallel to the vfirst, 'means forlongitudinally adjusting said ro una, am. heads sii-fiable onf Said Second shaft, means to holdeachhead atneutrel 'position andat predetermined positions at either side of its neutral position, forksextending from saidheads into engagement with the slidable gears, an interlock topre-A vent botlifof the heads being moved simultaneously from neutral. position, and means to shift the heads, forks and gears.

S, vIn a change-speed gearing, the combination of a gear box, a series of gears mounted therein, two of said gears being slidable,

a shaft revolubly mounted in said gear box, two heads slidable on said shaft, forks extending from said Aheads into engagement with the slidable gears, an interlocking pin to prevent both of the'heads'being simultaneouslyY moved from neutral position, and means to shift the heads, forks and gears.

9. In a change-speed gearing, the combination of a gear. box, a shaft and gears mountedtherein, two of said gears being slidable von said shaft, a second shaft revolubly mounted in said gear box, two heads slidable on said second shaft, forks extending from said. heads into engagement with the slidable gears, a longitudinal guide groove formed in one head, a guide bar mounted in the other head and extending' l into said groove to prevent relative rotation"l between said heads, an interlock to prevent both of thel .heads being simultaneously moved' from neutral position, and means to shift thelheads, forks and gears.

10. In achange speed gearing, the combination of a gear box, a shaft'and gears 95 mounted therein, two of'said gears being slidable on'the shaft, a second shaft rev-' ol'ubly mounted in said gearv box, and provided with a longitudinal guide groove, two heads slidable on ,said second shaft, one of said heads having a projection extending into said guide groove to prevent relative V rotation between said head and shaft, means to prevent-relative rotation between said heads, forks extending from said heads' into 195 engagement with the slidable gears, an interlock to prevent both of the heads being moved simultaneously from neutralv position, and means to shift the heads, forks. and

gears.

11. In a change-speed gearing, the combination of a gear box, a shaft and gears mounted therein, 'two of said gears beingA slidable on the shaft, a second shaft revolubly mounted adjacent the, first? two heads slidable on said second shaft, a longitudinal guide groove formed in each head adjacent the bore for the shaft, aguide bar mounted in each head and extending into the grooveinthe other head toV prevent relative rota- 120 tion between the hea-ds, forks extending from said heads into engagement with the slidable gears, an interlocking pin mounted in said, shaft and adapted to slide transversely thtg-aof into depressions in said guide bars when ytn forks and gears are innen- -tral position.said pinI being of such length as to prevent simultaneous movement of said heads from. neutral position, andnieans to shift thev heads, forksand gears. 130

12, In a change-speed gearin ,the combi nation of e gearbox, a sha t and gears mounted therein, two ef said. gears being slidable on the shaf, e second shaft; revn olubly mounted adjaeen; the first, two heads slidabie on. said second sb aft and having 1ongitudinel anges provided with pockets in their adjacent faces, forks extending from said heads into engagement' with the siidable gears, aan inteioek to prevent both of the heads being moved simuaneously from :1 position l Where seid pockets register with each other, :mda Ishifting Aiever extending into said pockets and movabletransversely from one pocket into the other' and ongispecification.

'mageos tudinlly of said fshAa-fteiitil either of Seidl .headsto shift the headsiforks and geere.

13. In a change speedgearng, tiie eombnation of a gear box, two engaging members slideble therein, a shaft. revoubly mqnnted' the shaft, and means to conne snifi enge@l ing members and said heads into pairs.

In testlmony whereof I' have signed this FRANK OHNSQN 

